Calculators in the 2027 Abitur: Regulations by federal state

There is no uniform, nationwide calculator rule for the 2027 German mathematics Abitur. This overview examines all 16 federal states using official sources. For 15 states, publicly accessible, year-specific 2027 guidelines are available for source verification. In Saarland, no public 2027 calculator rule could be found; in Thuringia, a detail regarding the external examination at the basic level remains contradictory. Therefore, the federal state, educational program, course, examination section, and exact model are always the deciding factors.

In short: WTR, GTR, CAS, and MMS do not mean the same thing everywhere. A calculator may be excluded in Section A and only permitted in Section B. A device designation never replaces the state's guidelines.

Important note: Which aids are permitted is determined by the rules of your specific examination. Review the examination regulations, Abitur guidelines, and school notices together. Clarify any ambiguities in writing with the responsible authority. Spickboy does not provide any universal admission guarantee.

This article covers Germany only. You can find further examination topics in the Spickboy™ guide.

The short answer for the 2027 Abitur

In the reviewed mathematics guidelines, the written examination typically begins with a section without digital mathematical tools. After that, the states differ significantly:

• Some states stipulate a scientific calculator but define its functions differently.
• Others work with GTR (graphing calculator), CAS, or a modular mathematics system (MMS).
• In some cases, the technology introduced at the school decides; in others, it is a function catalog or an approved model path.
• Memory clearing, factory default settings, or exam modes may be additionally required.
• None of the reviewed sources approve every model solely through the term "calculator."

For a reliable answer, you need five pieces of information: federal state, school type or educational program, subject and course level, examination section, and the complete model and, if applicable, software designation.

WTR, GTR, CAS, and MMS: the terms

• WTR – scientific calculator: A state-specifically defined calculator without or with certain advanced numerical functions.
• GTR – graphing calculator: A device for displaying function graphs. Graphing capability does not prove free programmability or CAS.
• CAS – Computer Algebra System: A system for symbolic mathematical operations.
• MMS – modular mathematics system: A system of interacting modules, such as computer algebra, graphics, geometry, distributions, or spreadsheets.

The IQB guidelines up to and including the 2029 examination year form a common framework for tasks. They are not a nationwide model approval. More information on technical differentiation can be found in the article Programmable calculators in examinations.

Abitur 2027 by federal state: 16 official regulation statuses

All of the following sources were checked on August 23, 2026. The summaries refer to the respective written mathematics examination mentioned. Vocational high schools, the "second educational path" (Zweiter Bildungsweg), or external examinations are only included if the source explicitly covers them.

Why the same term can mean something different depending on the state

A WTR (scientific calculator) in Berlin or Brandenburg must not perform numerical differentiation or integration according to the 2027 requirements. Schleswig-Holstein, however, requires numerical derivative values and definite integrals in its minimum WTR catalog. Hesse, in turn, expects its own package of extended numerical functions. The label "WTR" on a product page therefore does not answer an Abitur-related question.

The same applies to CAS and MMS. Some states use the terms in parallel or during a transition, while others differentiate by examination year. Check the official definition and the technology introduced by the school before categorizing a model.

What do you need to check for your state?

1. Determine the educational path: Gymnasium, Vocational Gymnasium, evening Gymnasium, Kolleg, external examination, or other path.
2. Open the 2027 source: Use the official state or examination page, not an old search result list.
3. Check subject and course: Mathematics, basic/advanced course or basic/higher level.
4. Separate examination parts: Note when Part A is handed in and from when which aid is available.
5. Determine technology: WTR, GTR, CAS, or MMS – exactly in the meaning of your state.
6. Compare model: Full model name, operating system, software version, memory, programs, and communication.
7. Clarify examination status: Only perform deletion, reset, or examination mode if the official requirement demands or recognizes it.
8. Ask open questions in writing: Specify the state, school, course, date, and exact model.

Next step: Save your state's current 2027 source and highlight the educational path, course, examination part, technology, and device status within it.

If a device does not meet the requirements, consequences due to an unauthorized aid may arise depending on the regulations. The article Attempted Cheating in an Examination explains procedures and possible consequences without generalized threats.

Four-week checklist before the Mathematics Abitur

Four weeks prior

• Secure the current version of the state requirements and school notices.
• Confirm educational path, course, and introduced technology.
• Practice the calculator-free and calculator-supported parts separately.
• Select a replacement device only according to the same rule.

Two weeks prior

• Train functions with original or sample assignments.
• Use the required formula document in the permitted version.
• Clarify reset, deletion, or examination mode according to official instructions.
• Check power supply and expressly permitted accessories.

The day before

• Do not install new programs, files, or settings.
• Check model designation and intended device state.
• Have all permitted aids ready separately.

On the day of the exam

• Wait for instructions from the supervisor.
• Use the digital tool only in the intended part.
• Ask if there is any ambiguity before using it.

2027 is not 2030

Further developed joint state guidelines and a centralized examination process apply to digital aids from the 2030 examination year onwards. This does not result in retroactive approval for 2027. A state can include a centrally tested model path in its own rule as early as 2027—the admissibility then follows from this state rule, not solely from the central examination status.

If you are taking the Abitur in 2027, the 2027 rule status of your state counts. A future list does not replace it.

Frequently asked questions about the calculator in the 2027 Abitur

Is there a nationwide list of approved calculators in 2027?

No. The states use common task frameworks but define aids and model paths themselves. Even with the same abbreviation, permitted functions may vary.

Which calculator is allowed in my state?

First check the educational path, mathematics course, examination part, and introduced technology. Then compare the exact model with the official state requirement and school notices. The state name alone is not always enough.

What do I do in Saarland without a public 2027 calculator rule?

Ask your school or the Ministry of Education for the current written specification for your educational path, course, and examination date. Do not transfer a rule from another state and do not infer anything from an older device designation.

Are CAS or MMS systems allowed in 2027?

In some states and course variants yes, in others no, or only after a school-specific determination. Lower Saxony, Saxony, and NRW, for example, use their own 2027 systems. For your model, only the appropriate state and school requirement counts.

Must the memory be cleared before the Abitur?

Several states require deletion, reset, or a controlled initial state. The extent varies. Deletion does not automatically make a functionally inadmissible model admissible.

What applies in the case of conflicting information from the school and an internet source?

Send the two sources, your model, the course, and the date to the responsible office in the official basis. Ask for written clarification. Until then, do not use a device based on an unverified assumption.

Conclusion: Five details lead to a reliable answer

For the 2027 Abitur, you need the state, educational path, mathematics course, examination part, and exact model. The 16 state checks show why a blanket "Abitur-approved" statement is not sufficient. Open the original source, compare the introduced technology, and have every gap clarified in writing in time. In Saarland and regarding the open Thuringian detail for external examinations, this inquiry is part of correct preparation, not just a precaution.

Sources and status

The direct official state sources, document statuses, scopes of validity, and open points are in the 16 state cards. Source check: August 23, 2026. Possible supplements must be checked again before publication and shortly before the exam.

Interstate background:

• Institute for Educational Quality Improvement (IQB): Notes on the use of aids, valid up to and including examination year 2029, as of January 23, 2024. Scope: common task framework, no state or model approval.
• Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK): FAQ on digital aids from 2030, as of September 29, 2025. Scope: future framework from 2030, no independent release for 2027.